USS South Dakota (BB-57)

Battleship “X”

Hull #: 421Named for: The State of South DakotaLaunched: June 7, 1941Length: 680 ftSpeed: 27.8 knFate: Sold for scrap October 25, 1962. Parts of the ship are in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.Trivia: South Dakota was the third ship of the US Navy to be named in honor of the State.

The U.S. Navy battleship USS South Dakota (BB-57) firing her anti-aircraft guns at attacking Japanese planes during the Battle of Santa Cruz, 26 October 1942. A Japanese Type 97 Nakajima B5N2 torpedo plane (“Kate”) is visible at right, apparently leaving the area after having dropped its torpedo. Source: Official U.S. Navy photograph 80-G-30054 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command.

The crew of the USS SOUTH DAKOTA stands with bowed heads, while Chaplain N. D. Lindner reads the benediction held in honor of fellow shipmates killed in the air action off Guam on June 19, 1944. Source: National Archives.